A majority of voters in the Napavine School District were supporting a proposed school bond as of preliminary results announced by the Lewis County Auditor’s Office on Tuesday, but that’s not enough to pass the measure.
The bond requires 60% of voters plus one vote for passage. As of Tuesday night, 471 voters, or 51.99%, were in favor while 435, or 48.01%, were opposed.
The vote will decide the fate of the school district’s proposal for expansion and renovation of the junior/senior high school and construction of new, permanent classrooms for middle school students.
The bond would fund other infrastructure and safety improvements at the Napavine School District, and would collect up to $19 million over a maximum of 25 years. The measure would charge non-exempt property owners an estimated $1.46 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $48.67 per month for a $400,000 home, and would require the district to levy annual excess property taxes to repay the bonds.
The preliminary count included the results of 13,338 ballots. The Lewis County Auditor’s Office estimated there were still 701 ballots left to count on election night, with an estimated total voter turnout of 24.15%.
The next ballot count was set to be released at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Election certification will take place on Nov. 28.
